By Our ReporterJapan’s Foreign Minister Taro Kano paid an official visit to Nepal on January 9 and 10. His visit has been termed successful as important notes were exchanged during his visit to Nepal.
Japan has agreed to open its sky for Nepali airlines to operate direct flights.
Nepal and Japan last week signed the exchange of notes for revising the Air Service Agreement between Nepal and Japan signed in 1993, allowing Nepali airlines to operate direct flights to Japanese airports.
“The exchange of notes has paved the way for the operation of direct flight between the two countries,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali at a joint press conference with his Japanese counterpart Taro Kono in the capital.
The two countries had reviewed the agreement in June last year and agreed to activate the new provision after the exchange of notes.
So far, Nepali airlines were allowed to land at and take off from the Osaka Airport only. As per the new agreement Nepali airlines can operate 14 flights per week to Japan.
“We hope that Nepal Airlines Corporation will operate its direct flights to Japan at the earliest,” said Kono.
Similarly, a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) has been signed between the two countries on conducting bilateral consultation.
Similarly, Gyawali and Kono discussed about bilateral cooperation for the implementation of infrastructure, connectivity and energy projects in Nepal and Japanese investment in priority sectors here.
Similarly, Nepal appealed to the Japanese investors and entrepreneurs for their active participation in the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit which will be held in March this year.
The two sides also stressed on the need of joint efforts for tourism promotion of Nepal in Japan in order to make the Visit Nepal Year 2020 successful.
Kono arrived in Nepal on a two-day visit leading an 18-member delegation. He also met President Bidya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.